I’ve found the organic movement, especially lately, to be profoundly contemptible. Yes, human beings should eat better, we need to balance the needs of the Earth with our food supply, and we shouldn’t hose our plants with pesticides and other crud if they’re toxic and dangerous. There are some very, very serious problems when it comes to what we eat that need to be addressed.

But the organic movement is, by and large, about being a self-righteous douche to poor people than anything else. Oh, you’re fat? Must be because you can’t eat organic!

The environmental angle is aggravating too. “I save the Earth by buying organic local apples!” Yeah, that totally makes up for the fact you drive any distance greater than 100 feet. No, your Prius does not make up for that.

So, thank you, Stanford University and the University of Oxford, for putting paid to this crap.

Stanford’s research found that there’s no difference in nutrients between organics and other foods. They did find a few differences, such as, unsurprisingly, lower amounts of pesticides, but those in normal food were found to be well within established limits. There were a few high points: Organic meat had less antibiotic resistant bacteria, and organic milk has more omega-3 fatty acids.

They did offer a caveat: None of the research found lasted more than two years, so we don’t know the long-term effects. On the other hand, there is the complex and dangerous technique of washing your food before you eat it, which has also not been scientifically tested.

Here’s my problem with the pesticide argument. You don’t want to ingest them, fine. But A) you’re probably ingesting something just as nasty, scientifically speaking and B) considering the sheer amount of crap we dump into the atmosphere, I’m not really sure it makes any difference.

Personal pet peeve – people using “chemical” as a bad word. Water is a chemical. Even the purest water ever. A chemical is “any material with a definite chemical composition” And even if you mean man-made chemicals, then absolutely, let’s get the fluoride out of the water, never take pain killers for injuries or surgery, etc.

Now, if you say you prefer to avoid ingesting toxins, I am totally down with that. But “chemicals” are not a bad thing.

Dan, that is a defeatist attitude. Like, since bad things are happening in Afghanistan already, who cares if we carpet bomb them to kill that one guy. Since we are exposed to toxins (thanks, justarat) no matter what we do, we might as well throw in the towel and let whatever happens happen without regulations.

Shouldn’t we try for a clean planet because it is possible? Or since we have started this Industrial Revolution, let’s just pollute to no end.

No one buys organic food because it has better nutrients, they do it because it has less chemicals and usually tastes better. “but those in normal food were found to be well within established limits.” That’s fine, but you can’t tell me eating less poison isn’t a good thing.

You just sound mad because you can’t afford nice things. Because you are poor.

No, I’m mad because I think the organic movement is doing two horrible things: 1) politicizing food and reinforcing classism, two things we absolutely cannot do in our society, and 2) perpetuating anti-scientific beliefs.

I completely agree with you Dan, but in addition to the politicizing of food, its perpetuating this belief that if you’re not eating organic, you’re eating absolute crap. Sure, Kraft Mac & Cheese might not be the best thing for dinner, but I’d take that over the chain store knock off brand.

First, you need to learn to take a fucking joke. I don’t know or care what your income is. Second, you are so mad about what other people eat it isn’t. You have your notions about organic food, that’s fine, it doesn’t affect me one way or another. When it comes to milk or food where I eat the skin/peel, i buy organic. Because I like it. There is nothing “classist” about it. I think you honestly think every person who likes organic is some snob who looks down on people like a South Park character. That’s a broad generalization that’s kind of really stupid. And how am i getting ripped off when I usually pay the same/less for organic as I do for other kinds of food? This conversation is so damn dumb.

Actually, organic milk is the one place where it IS better for you: Stanford found higher omega-3 fatty acids. As for why it lasts longer, I’m guessing it’s a mix of shorter transport distances and more stringent expiration dates.

I don’t buy something just because it says it’s organic. However, there was a burger place near my old job that sold 100% organic burgers, fries, etc. On more than one occasion, I went there and got a bacon cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate shake, and never once did I get heartburn, indigestion, or anything. When I eat the same thing at a diner, while it tastes more or less the same, I end up feeling like crap. Using that test, yeah, I think there might be something to the organic food.

Thanks for letting me know what the organic movement is about, “by and large.” Broad generalizations are the BEST!

Honestly, I think the self-righteous douches are the vocal minority among people that give a shit about where their food comes from. I know a ton of people that bike to farmers’ markets and whatnot and don’t throw that in the faces of people that drive their SUVs to Wal-Mart. (I also have a Republican friend that drives his SUV to Wal-Mart and *proudly* doesn’t recycle, which I think is fucked up, but I don’t think all Republicans are like that.)